CONTINU1NG our remarks on games for more than two players, we should like to note a variation of the ordinary four-handed game. Instead of each player following an adversary, he follows his partner, and the players are allowed to advise each other. This is not at all a bad game in the family circle if a young player is "paired" with an experienced exponent. For instance, father or son, or an elder brother with a youngster just promoted to the dignity of late dinners, make excellent combinations. The older hands should play first and try to leave something for the tyro when a score does not materialise. This is encouraging to the beginner, and can be supplemented by advice as to the best stroke to attempt.
Turning to pool games, plenty of variety is obtainable. Ordinary life pool becomes much easier if players are permitted to have a shot at any ball at the first stroke, instead of playing at the proper ball in the usual rotation. Or, for a change, a first stroke at the nearest ball may be permitted, such stroke to be at the option of the player. Needless to say, these variations will not commend themselves to those who play pool at all well—for it is such a grand game to those who really understand it—but they will serve to amuse a mixed company for an hour or two. An innovation which is not unworthy of consideration by quite good pool players is to take a hint from snooker, and include the black ball in the game in the manner mentioned in our next paragraph.
The balls are dealt out as for pool, and the black ball is placed on the centre spot of the table. The game proceeds exactly as usual, except that after taking one or more lives the striker may during the break only elect to play at the black. If he pockets it he takes the value of a life from every player, and pays out the same penalty all round if he fails to make the hazard. Two consecutive strokes on the black are not allowed, and when it is pocketed it is replaced on the centre spot. It can always be taken "up" when necessary the same as any other ball, and the penalty for missing it, making a loser off it, or forcing it off the table is the same as that enacted for failing to pocket it.
A black ball can also be placed on the centre spot at the commencement of a game of pyramids, and allowed to count double the value of a red whenever taken after a red ball has been pocketed. But here we are getting far too near Snooker for no particular reason, and one might almost as well play the whole game and done with it. Mention of Snooker brings to mind an interesting variation of that fascinating game which has been tried with success before now. We allude to "Volunteer" Snooker. In this game, after each player has had a turn, it is allowable to "volunteer" to play at a coloured ball without first pocketing a red, but failure to make the hazard means that the value of the ball played at is deducted from the striker's score. But the same coloured ball must not be taken twice in succession in the same break. This game calls for both nerve and judgment, and if played at all rashly may easily prove decidedly expensive.
Another round game which our forefathers played at times, but which the present generation has never seen, is "Losing Pyramids." As its name denotes, this game is ordinary pyramids played in reverse style. Instead of winning hazards, losing hazards have to be made, and after making a losing hazard off a red ball that ball is removed from the table. Winning hazards, misses, and coups count against the striker. We have never tried the game, but it appears to have its possibilities by way of a change, and could be easily adapted to the requirements of a number of players under the name of "Losing Shell-out"—a title many would doubtless find extremely appropriate.
While the pyramid balls are on the table there is no harm in mentioning an amusing "catch" which never fails to interest those who have no previous knowledge of it.
The balls are placed in the triangle as usual, and one player undertakes to pot all fifteen red balls before the other can make fifty cannons with the white ball from any red ball to another. With so many red balls on the table it seems any odds on the cannon player—and so it is if he can play cannons in professional style. But the ordinary player soon finds the balls becoming more and more scattered as cannon succeeds cannon, and before long they begin to group themselves perilously near the pockets. The inevitable breakdown soon occurs, then the winning hazard man usually sends a number of balls into various pockets, thus decreasing the chance of the cannon player; and the twenty or thirty break performer at billiards is seldom able to make fifty cannons before the other man pockets the balls. It should be noted that balls pocketed by the cannon player remain down, and that the hazard player is usually permitted to have first stroke.
Another wily dodge with the pyramid balls is to put one ball about two or three inches clear of each pocket, so that the winning hazard appears too simple to miss. Then place the cue-ball in hand and ask for volunteers to pocket all six balls in half-a-dozen consecutive strokes, you reserving the right to nominate the order in which the balls must be taken. Of course, a good player will get through practically every time, but here again the moderately skilful as well as the tyro will find the problem not quite so easy as it looks, it is so simple to leave the cue-ball tight against a side cushion in such a manner that a ball over the middle pocket covers the one in a corner pocket, which, of course, is promptly nominated by the individual who has power to decide the rotation of strokes. It is quite good sport for half-a-dozen ordinary players to have a round at this, each contributing to a small pool for the first to clear the board in six strokes, and allowing the marker to nominate the most difficult stroke. It should be pointed out that a "six stroke" is held to break the sequence.
We will conclude this article by once again laying our old friend Captain Crawley under contribution, for a game he called "Penny Pot," and which is best described in his own language. He says:—
"I invented this easy and amusing variety of pool many years ago, and now have the pleasure of knowing that it is played in country houses all over the kingdom. It is played in the same way as ordinary pool, with the same order of balls; only, instead of a stake and three lives for each player, there is a penny paid by the owner to the taker of each life. The game goes on as long as the company care to amuse themselves with it—winning hazards receiving, and losing hazards, misses, and coups paying; each player taking his or her turn to strike. All rules as to forfeits, etc., which are common to pool, are observed at Penny Pot. I have seen as many as twenty ladies and gentlemen play at this game on a wet day in a country house; much real fun, and very little loss of either temper or money, being the pleasant results. Every taker of a life plays at the nearest ball, and plays on as long as he can score. If he is fortunate enough to clear the table, he spots his ball, and the next player goes on as before. Any person can join in or relinquish the game at pleasure."
(To be continued.)